Scarlett Johansson keeps showing us who she is. I donât think sheâll change and as the recent Vanity Fair interview shows, she isnât going away. I would love to never hear her talk about Woody Allen ever again, but here we are. Yes, her position is EFFED UP, but instead of simply rewarding the publication with clicks and social media mentions until we move onto the next outrage, letâs also make an example of her.
OK, not quite like that.
What I mean is her vocal support for Woody Allen in both The Hollywood Reporter and Vanity Fair paints a clear look into the making of an enabler. I couldnât resist writing about her because she is a great example of this kind of hypocrisy (and she reminds me of a few folks from my own life).
This quote is a remarkable piece of gaslighting. Johannson refutes that she doesntât support or believe women while saying she doesnât believe Woody Allenâs victim who is, in fact, a woman. If Johansson is giving any support, itâs for only for Allen. From Vanity Fair:
But just because I believe my friend does not mean that I donât support women, believe women. I think you have to take it on a case-by-case basis. You canât have this blanket statementâI donât believe that. But thatâs my personal belief. Thatâs how I feel.â
The problem is that âbelieve womenâ (or my preferred version âbelieve survivorsâ) doesnât preclude handling reports on case-by-case basis. Itâs âbelieve womenâ not âwomen never lieâ or âtake everything women say at face value without question.â Believe women/survivors highlights how our society gives abusersâespecially abusive menâthe benefit of the doubt and are trusted more than women and rape victims across the board. (Read my deeper dive into what believe survivors means here.)
Johansson believes and supports some women. And thatâs exactly how rape culture continues. No one thinks every victim is lying; all the little exceptions people make is where rape culture thrives.
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